NOTTING HILL

Notting Hill is a fashionable and cosmopolitan district close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. By 1800 the area was known for its pottery work  made here and by the large number of pigs that inhabited the place.   This area has gone through several changes over the last  hundred years. It remained rural until the early 19th century, in 1840 became more residential but  after the Second World War the area not only did not improve but worsened, the neighbourhood of large dwellings lost their market and became slums. Today Notting Hill is one of the most desirable places to live.  Although the neighbourhood  is relatively small, there’s plenty to see and do, like visiting the  famous Portobello Market  which operates mainly on Saturdays and walking along Portobello Road, made famous by the film.
Underground Station:  Notting Hill Gate

Colourful Houses off Portobello Road  by royterp

STAY

THE HEMPEL    31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, minutes away of Notting Hill and Kensington Gardens.  A five-star small boutique hotel, in a quiet garden square.  Rooms are spacious, bright and elegant with minimalist design.

EAT

CHURCHILL ARMS  119 Kensington Church Street.   Nice and friendly pub, good food.

CLARKE’S  124 Kensington Church Street.  Restaurant, bakery and shop.  Very good food and service.

MAGGIE JONES  6 Old Court Place, Kensington Church Street.  Typical English restaurant, rustic style.  The restaurant is tucked away in a little cul-de-sac between Kensington High Street and Kensington Church Street.

BUMPKIN  209 Westbourne Park Rd.  English restaurant spread over a town house, with two dining floors, a private dining room and an Attic room, which hosts regular cabaret nights and supper clubs, but with its own DJ booth.

MAYFAIR

Mayfair is the “posh” and elegant neighbourhood of central London, also expensive and kind of exclusive.  Tour the back streets of the neighbourhood, squares, parks and gardens or shop in Marks & Spencer and Selfridges. Old Bond Street, New Bond Street and Mount Street are the most fashionable streets to walk and shop.  Underground: Bond Street

Mount Street Gardens  Image Alexandra Mitchell

STAY

THE CONNAUGHT   16 Carlos Place, on the corner of Mount Street. One of the oldest and prestigious 5 star hotels in London, was built in 1897.    The hotel has 121 rooms, and every guest is given their own personal butler. Rates from GBP 265.

ST JAMES HOTEL AND CLUB    7-8 Park Place, St. James.  Member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the St. James has sixty rooms and suites, some of which have their own private terraces.  Rates from GBP 300.

The Connaught  Image Soham Banerjee

EAT

SELFRIDGE’S  400 Oxford Street. There is a food hall in the basement and the HIX Restaurant, champagne and caviar bar  on the Mezzanine floor where the Moet champagne bar used to be.

CHOCOLATIER CHARBONNEL & WALKER   28 Old Bond Street in the Royal Arcade.  The store was founded in 1875, the Prince of Wales was one of its first customers.

WILD HONEY   12 St. George Street, between Regent St. and Bond St.  Serves lunch and dinner, pre-theater menu reasonably priced.

THE NATURAL KITCHEN   77-78 Marylebone High Street.  Organic, wild and artisan meats, vegetables and patisserie, good for lunch, brunch and food to go.

AFTERNOON TEA AT THE CLARIDGE’S    Brook Street.  It’s the perfect venue for a light meal, cocktails and the finest venue for the afternoon tea in London.

Claridge’s Mayfair  Image Ewan-M

 

SEE

THE WALLACE COLLECTION  Hertford House, Manchester Square.  The Wallace Collection is a national museum in a historic London town house.  Free admission including temporary exhibitions.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY  Art museum on Trafalgar Square.  Over 2,300 paintings in the collection  dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.  Free admission.

 

Van Gogh’s Chair  National Gallery Collection